Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Judge re-reads evidence in butcher knife murder trial

Date
2018-04-19
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Kilkenny
County
Kilkenny

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, a jury was sent home after a night of deliberation in the trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer, a friend of Butler's nephew, on 10 January 2014. O'Dwyer died in hospital after a stab wound to the chest at a party in Butler's Co Waterford home. Butler, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while taking a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm. The nephew, Anthony (Tony) O'Grady, testified that Butler walked over and stabbed the victim with a butcher's knife, but later said he could not remember the incident due to personality disorders and medication. The jury requested further statements from O'Grady, Butler and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy. Judge Paul Butler spent the day re‑reading the evidence before the jurors resumed deliberations, ultimately deciding to return home and reconvene the next morning with fresh minds.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge re-reads evidence in butcher knife murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Michael O'Dwyer. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Case subjects

Tadhg Butler

Defendant

Charges: murdering Michael O'Dwyer (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Unnamed 25-year-old

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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